>> eavesdropping on allies. the agency has been monitoring the german chancellor cell phone for over a decade adding fuel to the frustration over a u.s. surveillance practices. also. >> i remember flying out of the window. >> we talked to survivors of that suicide blast that hit a crowded bus in russia. america's killing machine.

human rights watch who said that drone strikes in pakistan may constitute war crimes. and the syrian government. its chemical weapons and plans to destroy them. opposition groups refused to attend the peace conference. >> good morning. you are watching "the weekly." first, the german chancellor has been the target of u.s. surveillance for over a decade. according to a leaked document. american spies tapping into phones of world leaders. in a phone call to president obama, merkel said it will be a breach of trust if it is confirmed.

she said a spy among friends does not work. obama apparently apologized and claimed to have no prior knowledge. but, a newspaper goes to suggest he actually encouraged the bugging of merkel's phone. leaked documents show that her number was on the nsa watchlist from 2002 to, three years before she became chancellor. comment from the former french prime minister said he never expected america to go this far. >> we knew that some practices were existing. as such a system, this came as a surprise. what we are seeing today is the incredible privileges of the u.s. administration over the control of the world system. we know the u.s. by controlling the financial system through the banking and government, through the dollar currency as a reserve

currency. but controlling the internet and information, it is a monopoly. if we are going in the same direction, confrontation may be. >> explanations for washington. france and germany as pushing for a new deal. nsa has been tracking phone calls of 35 world leaders. a lack of trust that could harm the partnership and washington. germany is harboring with brazil for a u.n. resolution. a diplomat said the anger is unlikely to go beyond formal statements. >> on the longer-term after the media has toned down the bigger issue, it will go on as business as usual. that is my expectation. that would not be any real measures.

their problem is not that they are spying. the problem is that in a band called as spying. -- that they have been called at spying. they do it for economic reasons. they want to know what europe is going to do. they are afraid that are losing ground. >> shockwaves are being felt. thousands rallied in washington, d.c. venting their anger against nsa and calling for reform. it was billed as the largest in american history. we have more. >> thousands of people gathered on the anniversary of the signing of the patriot act 12 years ago. they believe it was the day and the name of fighting terror their rights were taken away. they believe the trade-off between security and privacy is a false one.

>> people here said they are tired of the lies the government has been telling to cover up their massive spying. just a year ago, the director of nsa said and know, when asked if they were collecting data on americans. edward snowden's revelation confirmed it was a lie. the latest i heard it within a month, the nsa spied on more than 124 billion phone calls worldwide. that means that every single person on earth is facing the risk of being caught up in the dragnet. the person, edward snowden, he is holed up in russia because here in the states he would sure be in jail by now. >> people at the rally demanded a meaningful surveillance law reform. they came with a petition signed by more than 500 thousand people asking for an investigation.

senate judiciary committees plan hearings on those programs so they want to make sure their forces are heard. one of the main messages of this rally as watch the watchers. the question is, is it really possible? so far, and he liked that has been shed on the watchers was three whistleblowers. >> more details and updates on the battle for privacy and ask her and analysis -- and expert analysis. a suicide bombing killed six people in southern russia on monday. dozens more injured. it went off in a packed bus. we retrace the events of the sad day. >> october 21 started as any other monday. people woke up with places to go. heavily using the bus stations like this one. but for several people needing

bus number 29, they never could've foreseen how quickly their lives would change. the route ran without incident from morning until afternoon until one person got on board. a 30-year-old woman, that is when things took a tragic turn. anna stasia was on her way home. she was laughing and talking with other students. the middle of the bus saved her life. >> when the bus hit, everything went flying. i do not remember any thing. i remember flying out of the window and suddenly i was on the street and in a panic. i understood something happened with my hands. i was covered in blood. >> it was right here at 2:00 when a bomb ripped through the bus filled with 40 people. first responders thought it was a malfunction of the bus. they asked themselves, it was a

gas explosion, where was the fire? >> everybody on the bus was touching their faces and heads and asking what happened. there was a lot of blood on them and a lot of flesh everywhere. i was very afraid. i got out of my car and i saw a head. my friend took a young boy and his father to the hospital. >> the remnants of an explosive device. shrapnel and tnt and a grenade. the accident site was a crime scene. a jihadist from the republic became the central focus of the investigation. authorities will find her husband. and after the russian, dutch and definite russian missing that he may have the answers. -- an ethnic russian missing and hoping he may have the answers. but when home becomes a war zone.

>> what ever happens, i will not leave my home again. >> rt reports from the syrian city. families refused to abandon their homes. the next. tracking the drones. america's ongoing strikes should be regarded as war crimes according to a report this last week from amnesty international despite the government's attempt to downplay. the news. shocking numbers. it all begin and 2004 under the bush administration. the number of victims soared through 2006 when almost 100 people were injured. in 2008, 75 lives were lost. the following year, obama took over, a record number. up to 122 and the drone war

contains. the obama administration is responsible for about 90% of the strikes since 2004. almost 1000 civilians have been killed including up to 200 children. some estimates put the total number of fatalities in the region above 3.5 thousand. -- 3500. the latest report from amnesty international. was the predator drone. remotely controlled. it is the weapon of choice for the cia in pakistan. that is where they have launched more than 300 starts since 2004. the target is suspected taliban and al qaeda militants. the white house said a better draws and it boots on the ground. they justify the covert program as effective and legal. >> america does not take strikes to punish individuals. we act against terrorists who strike an imminent threat to the american people.

>> not so according to amnesty as to -- international. they want a u.s. drone strikes could amount to war crimes. a document recent killings in pakistan and the lack of transparency surrounding drones. >> it is a secret program. we have found in some cases, they clearly killed civilians. some of them might be war crimes. >> one such case is that of a 68 year old killed by a you as a jerome last october. -- by a u.s. drone last october. the children survived. >> i heard the boehm. it first hit us. the second hit my cousin. >> her grandmother's body was pulverized. this is all that remains. amnesty documents other case. they talk about the need for

transparency and accountability. what's the u.s. must explain why these people have been killed. it must provide justice to these people and compensation and investigate those responsible. >> in a separate report, an investigation look at 32 drone strikes around the world not just an pakistan that violated international law and resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties. that report calling for more transparency and accountability from the united states. reporting from moscow. >> the convicted terrorist has walked free in spain after a european court ruling. we look at the process. the controversial rolling. that is after the break. -- the controversial ruling.

>> libya stands at the of best. a weak rule of law and endless violence. -- stands at the abyss. add the presence of militants. could things get even worse?

>> this is rt. thousands of people have protested against a ruling. the european court of human rights have released some the most notorious members. this man has been jailed since the late 98 impossible for a role and -- in 20 killings. one man said it is doing the opposite of what it was set out to do. >> it is incredible that a european court of human rights should intervene in this way to alleviate the symptoms of a woman who is being convicted after due process up the murder of more than a 23 people.

this woman is a mass murderer. the idea that the court which was set up to safeguard citizens against the abuses they could be committed by states against their own citizens that such a body should be intervening in favor of people who themselves have grossly abused the rights of citizens of by murdering them. >> online, big coin is gaining momentum. supporters will love that. the first eight him allowing that the first eight him allowing customers -- atm allowing customers to turn their coins into cash. profits may be skyrocketing. what tools of the richest corporations will do just that. that is at rt.com. the recent surge in migrant

deaths is spreading around europe. many have drowned in the mediterranean. the seed, that you can see the main routes and they come from countries with long-running violence including syria. some went through italy. others make it to spain or france which are top destinations. also germany and united kingdom. it is italy and greece that bears the brunt. it obliges residents. we have the story. >> they went by foot from ethiopia to sudan and reached sicily after the most nerve- racking boat ride of your life. these three women are hiding their faces since they are risk being sent back. >> when we are seeing on the

boat, three hundred people died. we were lucky. we managed to avoid getting register. >> it is illegal but we need to go further. >> all the newcomers must seek asylum where they arrive. under italian law, anybody avoiding registration is sent home. more and more newcomers are willing to take their chances and do not registered to go to northern eu states where there are more opportunities. >> when you arrive here, they give you the very minimum. no jobs and no school. you live on the street. italy is one of the worst states in this regard. >> youth unemployment has exceeded 40%. international obligations and human principle cannot allow italy to turn around refugees. it is the only chance for survival. the situation has reached a point where the duty has become too heavy for them to handle on

their own. the eu has pledged italy will receive 30 million euros to deal with the refugee crisis. how will this help to distribute it more italy are out of the union and integrate them is not clear. >> there been so many ideas. there may be some positive. it is a lot of good help. >> as governments and international organizations brainstorm and the solution, one thing is certain. it will continue. >> the syrian government submitted its plan on chemical arms destruction meeting a deadline oh stop the peace talks are struggling to get on board. 19 opposition groups refusing to take part spurred by russia and the u.s. syria's groups are split.

homes are on the front lines. >> this is south of damascus. 10 months ago, it was home to one million palestinians. today, 10% remain. the price of war is felt here. it has divided families and pitted brother against brother. >> they betrayed us. we cannot trust them anymore. but in today's ago he and his wife came home was up for 10 long months they lived on the streets. not given up hope they would return. this is what awaited them. the welcome, we are coming to kill you scribbled on their walls. what ever happens, i will not leave my house again. i would like to destroy the walls and rebuild them. it cannot be worse than this. >> one year, the palestinians managed to stay out of the conflict. the infiltration of fighters and

big promises of money forced the residents to pick sides. and take up arms against people they have known their entire lives. >> i have some friends fighting on the other side. they are not friends anymore. the ones who displays us from our houses and destroyed us are not our friends. >> each day, he fights them. but not before he he stacked furniture high against windows to protect his family from snipers. life inside of these bullet riddled walls it is dangerous as it is outside. his two sons and their mother worry every time the father walked out the door. she carefully helps her husband prepare for battle. she knows he needs to go. each time he leaves behind the same unanswered question -- >> every day when he says

goodbye i wonder if he will come back or not. i wanted to find him. there are a lot of men like him and women like me. >> not a lot of fighters have brought their families and back. the snipers are in shooting range. three days earlier, shrapnel was in his eye. the 33 year does not have a choice. he has nowhere else to take his family. -- the 33-year-old does not have a choice. his home has been freed by palestinians who like him are fighting alongside the syrian army. >> when i go to the battlefield, my mind is with my family. i hope i will come back safe to them and take care of them. i pray they will find tender people to look after them. >> the front line is near. it is two streets away. the battle is closer to home.

each time they take aim to secure the street for their families, often is a neighbor, a friend, and sometimes a brother who is pointing a gun back at them. rt. >> will take you world news developing. southern britain. the worst storm in years it had in the event way. -- is heading that way. it the be the most instructive and since the 1980's. the wind is around 180 kilometers. -- it could be the most destructive since the 1980's. it is affecting airports including heathrow. stay with us as the storm blows through. in india, five people have been killed and injured in a string of the last before the start of

a political rally. the explosion happened before appearance of opposition politician who is a candidate for prime minister in next year's election. it went off at the train station. no groups have admitted to the attack. georgia has finished voting for a new president. the ballots are still being counted. exit polls show a victory for -- and now sporting opponent -- an outspoken opponent of the outgoing leader. >> as it -- exit polls show the 44-year-old and ahead of 22 other candidates including the candidate of the countries -- country's outgoing president. he has come out to the media and confirmed his defeat and

congratulated his rival. although, official results will only come out in two weeks. and technically it is being treated and is still remains. this bold is less about the country future but saying the by to the country's pass an outgoing president. his almost 10 year long presidency ends with this vote. how was his legacy? my report on that. the tractors of georgia's outgoing president. they follow mikhail everywhere to leave him and no doubt. he was the once popular leader of the rose revolution. the first revolution that stop our change. -- that saw power change. even former allies were on the

attack. >> after success, he built an authoritarian regime. the media was attacked. one million lead. one quarter went through the penal system. there were either arrested or interrogated. >> and two thousand seven, police used tear gas against protesters who wanted him to resign. -- in 2007, police used tear gas against protesters who wanted him to resign. they did it again a few years later. >> people are afraid to express their opinions. it could affect their families. >> has brother used to run the state ordered office and claims he was tortured and jailed. he took his case to the human rights court, he said he was arrested. he said it was a fabricated case. he was another political prisoner.

>> i got 8.5 years. i would not have gotten out. in one week, they took off for dead bodies. they said those young men died from diseases. that is nonsense. >> days before the election showing people being humiliated. it was the last straw of the georgian people. the party lost. this georgian immediate veterans set the public the euphoria is tempered by how much people had already lost. >> a nation with history. we started to believe in it. we moved away from our soviet past. >> he managed to convince the entire world and under the flag of democracy. >> as georgia votes, many it is less about the future but saying goodbye to their past. the law prevents him from

running for president again. his ambitions are far away from politics in the wind business. the public is in no mood to let him fade into the background. there's a strong desire here for him to be brought to justice. it seems his detractors will not stop until that is quenched. georgia. >> thank you. we hope to see you again tomorrow. the next news and half-an-hour. a close look at the desperate downtrodden of america's skid row. >> a spanish language teacher has been fired before she became

a teacher. parents and her past was inappropriate and it was a distraction. this was something she did in the past which was legal. if you pose in playboy, are you forbidden from working in the real world? i continue any young, attractive teacher will cause a distraction. when they have to fire any teacher who could be distracting? teachers are supposed to be people for children to respect and look up to. when you're spanish teacher is willing to sell the good stuff for money to playboy, is a lot harder to respect that kind of person. it is not a good example for my daughter. it is very complex. you should really try to fight the temptation to make sure -- quick money. it could come back to fight -- bite you. that is my opinion. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

hello, thanks for joining us on nhk world. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. a german newspaper says president barack obama has known for years that american agents were eavesdropping on chancellor angela merkel for the last three years.